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Hall takes the sting out of social club

Donald Hall's direct goal from a corner on the left side in the 66th minute was all that could separate these two former FA Cup winners at PHC Stadium last night.

Social Club, not intimidated by Rangers after their win over Vasco on Sunday, took the game to their opponents in the first half and created the better of the chances as the Rangers defence looked shaky under pressure.

The closest either team came to scoring in the first half was in the 27th minute when Social Club's left-back Denton Richardson tried his luck with a shot from 35 yards, which went inches over the bar as the backpedalling Bernie Wood looked in trouble.

A minute before the break, Social Club had a good chance to open the scoring when Troy Lewis collected a pass and raced through the Rangers defence only to see the chance wasted when he opted to pass the ball inside the penalty area.

Rangers lifted their game after the restart and had Social Club on the defensive for long periods, though Social Club did have a good chance to score in the 48th minute when Rembert Hill lobbed the ball over Wood's head but put the effort over the bar.

Hall's inswinging corners caused the Social Club goalkeeper Earlston Wolffe some trouble as he hit the crossbar with one in the 57th minute before driving a shot from 25 yards over the bar as Rangers continued to dominate.

Two more corners from Hall in the 66th minute finally produced the game's only goal. The first corner was slapped over the bar by Wolffe and on the next corner the 'keeper tried to catch the ball at the near post and dropped it over the line.

Social Club were unlucky not to tie it up in the 87th minute when Lewis sprinted into the box but wasted the good opportunity when he shot wide of the near post.

Island Rangers 0, Vasco 5 Vasco extinguished any dreams Island Rangers may have had of advancing in the FA Cup with a 5-0 shellacking of the west-end side at Somerset CC.

Ricky Mallory and Larance Durham each netted twice and big Paul Towlson once in this demolition job by Vasco.

From the start they adopted a take-no-prisoners approach and looked like wiping their Commercial Division opponents off the pitch.

Anthony Bailey had the first crack at goal for Vasco in the fifth minute, his 25-yard rocket having to be collected by goalkeeper Gladstone Gumbs on the second attempt.

But there would be no denying the Second Division giants two minutes later as Towlson converted a Bailey corner, poking the ball across the line following a goalmouth scramble.

With the Rangers defence still in shock, Vasco struck again.

This time Durham headed in another Bailey corner.

The domination continued toward the half with Derek Thomas and Mallory constant threats up front. Thomas barely missed on two occasions to extend Vasco's lead, skimming the bar with a shot and heading another chance wide.

A severe tongue-lashing by Rangers player/coach Troy Berkeley at half-time resulted in the underdogs coming out with renewed vigour for the second half.

They were able to break free for a few counter-attacks only to have plays break down as they reached the penalty area.

Durham popped up to score his second goal of the match in the 65th minute as a terrific defence-splitting pass by Bailey sprung him clear and he gave Gumbs no chance with a fierce, rising shot from 10 yards.

The onslaught continued with Mallory tucking away a penalty in the 74th minute after centre-half Roger Williams hacked him down in the area. Ten minutes later, the striker closed out the scoring, slotting home from close range after receiving a ball from Durham.

Devonshire Cougars 3 Prospect 1 (after extra time) Goals after extra time by centre-half Sheldon Franks and substitute Gilbert Grimes gave Cougars victory in this hard-fought clash at Devonshire Rec.

It was the brilliant effort by Franks after seven minutes of the second half of extra time that sealed it for the home team.

With the grace and skill of a forward, Franks gained possession on the left flank, smartly dribbled by two defenders and then lobbed the ball over the head of advancing goalkeeper Kuhn Evans to put Cougars ahead 2-1.

And then just at the end of the interesting match-up, Grimes added the third, hammering home a cross from the left wing when he was just a few yards inside the penalty box.

But Prospect made their opponents sweat it out for victory. However, they were unable to sustain the pace and rhythm they displayed in the first half and allowed Cougars to come into the game with increasing momentum.

Trent Lightbourne put Prospect ahead 1-0 after 37 minutes with a scorcher from 20 yards and the visitors held on to this lead until the interval.

Cougars remained competitive and had their moments in the first half with Dale Russell and Carlos Smith coming close with fine efforts.

Cougars forward Michael Pond put a shot into the chest of goalkeeper Evans early in the second half and Devon Brangman followed this up by blowing a simple chance.

But Dwayne Bean pulled Cougars level moments later when he scored from 14 yards after beating a defender during a great run down the right flank. Evans then made two superb saves to deny Bean and Grimes as Cougars pushed powerfully forward in search of the clincher.

In return, Prospect counted on isolated attacks with David Geraghty and Stevie Lightbourne hurrying long-range shots wide and over the goal.

In the first half of extra time, Kenneth Bartrum placed an effort wide for Prospect from 14 yards, but Franks and Grimes were allowed to respond in the second period with efforts that were well on target.

For last night's other cup matches, see Page 27.

WINNERS -- Ricky Mallory, left, and Corey Simmons saw their teams advance to the FA Cup first round last night. Mallory scored twice in Vasco's 5-0 win over Island Rangers, while Simmons' Southampton nipped social Club 1-0.